VANCOUVER (October 28, 2022) – The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) issued a joint statement on Friday in reaction to the Government of British Columbia’s announcement that they will not support an Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2030:
“We are disappointed to hear that the Government of British Columbia has declined to support the Indigenous-led efforts to bring an Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games back to Canada.
From the beginning, when the COC and CPC were invited by the Lil̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations to participate in a feasibility study, we believed all partners had to be on board for the project to continue – and that includes all levels of government.
While this is not the outcome we were hoping for, there is no denying that the work done so far has been truly transformational. We have set a new precedent for putting reconciliation at the heart of major event planning in this country, bringing to life Call to Action #91 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, as well as the principles of UNDRIP and DRIPA. In doing so, we presented a bid that put climate action, fiscal responsibility, and the housing and development needs of the host communities at the heart of the Games concept, which uniquely would have reused existing venues and infrastructure to deliver the Games. Most of all, we were proud to follow a process that served as a model of respect, inclusivity and community.
As individuals and organizations we have learned a tremendous amount through this project, and we thank all of our partners for their collaboration and commitment to this point. We are committed to building on this important work and sharing our lessons with the world. In following this Indigenous-led process, we believe we’ve been part of a model that can apply beyond sport and we encourage all organizations and policymakers across the country to build on this work as they strive to meaningfully put reconciliation in action.
We know that the impact of hosting a Games starts from the time that communities come together to dream of a better future and we are committed to supporting a lasting legacy from the first ever Indigenous-led bid. We believe in the transformative power of sport and heard from thousands of people during our community engagement who shared their hopes for the impact of a 2030 Games. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Four Host First Nations to support bringing the benefits of sport to more members of the community and are excited about what we can continue to accomplish together. We will have more to share in the coming weeks."
